Crocea Pinching

[CSS Reef]

I have browsed the other posts about clams "pinching" Well my Crocea started pinching the last couple of days. Tank parameters are all in line:

Ca: 430
Alk:9dKH
Nitrate:undectable (is this bad for clams?)
Lighting 250W DE. Clam is about 12 inch directly under.

I have searched the clam for snails etc.. Havent seen anything. Wanted to do a freshwater dip but the clam has attached itself where I moved it a few days ago. Has anyone ever seen this behaviour just pass? The color is still very nice. It has attached very quickly and is still very responsive to changes in lighting shadows etc.... I have no fish in this tank. It is primarily an SPS dominated tank.

It is not pinched all the way inside the shell. It still extends but the edges of the mantle are ruffled. Any info would be helpful on things I can do.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

I try to read everything I can on pinching (seems to affect only crocea)- and have had some luck doing a FW dip - but, and a BIG BUT, make sure of water parameters first, to me- your alk is low mine 10-11, what is your salt? Mine was once 1.030 and the dippy doddle meter read 1.023!!! I though it was OK because 2 of them read the same thing. - 7 corcea, 2 max, 1 squami, 1 dersa, and wanting more!!!!?

 

[Peabody]

Agreed with the above. I prefer alk around 11-12. How are you measuring SG?

Out of curiosity, what fish do you have? It could be possible someone decided to nip, if you have the right fish.

 

[Foreverlearnin]

Peabody,

In his post he said he had no fish.

481824,

Your alk is in the acceptable range in my experiance. I once ran my calcium to 575ppm and alk to 6 kh German style and the only side effect I saw was a signifigant growth rate increase. This also pushed the Nitrate to undectable levels, and my test kit reads down to 0.1ppm. I am currently lowering Ca and raising alk in hopes of not causing any negative side effects untill I find a way to get my nitrate back up. You may have the same problem. I am not sure how much is enough nitrate to keep clams happy. I am also not sure what is the best additive to increase nitrate. I hope someone makes a clam nutrient additive soon!

 

[Peabody]

D'oh...missed the no fish part.

 

[CSS Reef]

Thanks for the tips guys. I noticed that the clam doesnt pinch the first couple of hours or so. Im usually at work during this time so when I saw the lights today the clam looked great and I thought my problem was over. After a couple of hours it began to have that "withered/pinched" look to it. Almost fully extended but the edges seemed kind of pulled in. Anyone have the same experience??

 

[AcroSteve]

Is the clam new or old?

 

[Peabody]

Any inverts like crabs or shrimp?

I have noticed my clams mantles don't look as good when the CA/ALK are low. Bumping up the alk wouldn't hurt anything.

 

[Foreverlearnin]

Get a pic if at all possible

 

[CSS Reef]

No crabs or shrimp. The clam is a month old. I have been SLOWLY trying to bump my alk level to 10dKH with baking soda. Ill try and get pics.

 

[Charlie Davidson]

foreverlearning, Chill, I had teachers-that if you missed one point, you missed the question, I am now telling all-- Not true!! check every angle, then check again! (fish tank, no Fish? no crabs? no shrimp?) 481824, any stars? what kind of cleaners do you have? bare bottom tank?

 

[CSS Reef]

Havent had time to take a pic. But yes, no fish, no crabs, no stars. Except for the acro crabs. I know it isnt them. Doing a dominated SPS tank. I love keeping the tank without fish. No major algae blooms, crap sludge etc.. Trying to keep the tank as nutrient poor as possible to hoefully help my SPS coloration.